Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1887-09-19
THE CLIMAX
OF the Great Centennial Reached in YeSter-
days Celebration.
THE CONSTITUTIONAL FESTIVITIES
President Clsvsland's Eloquent Address In
Independence Square.
BURNING WORDS OF PATRIOTISM.
A Flood of Music and OratOry DelugeS the
Meeting.
The CONSTITUTIONAL FESTIVITIES
BURNING WORDS OF PATRIOTISM

past ten, Wncn uc otOOu III ~ Ou
s~ioner's room in the east wing of the City
Hall, at Broad and Market streets, and
shook the hands Of young and old, rich
and poor, as they passed in continuous
procession before him. The President,
accompanied by Secretaries Bayard and
Fairchild, who stood Immediately behind
him during the reception, left the Hotel
Lafayette shortly before nine O'Clock, and
promptly upon the appointed time entered
the City Hall amid the cheers OF the walt
ing multitude, and it was a multitude.
The space opposite the southern entrance
of the building was fairly packed with peO-
pie, some of whom had taken up their sta
ton before dawn. AS there were fully
twenty thousand people in the %neighbor-
hood it is safe to say that not One-third OF
them succeeded in greeting the President.
At 1910 sharp the Presidential party left
the building and took carriages for the
memorial meetingin Independence Square.
This was the third and last day of the
third centennial celebration at the
ChADLE OF
within the last eleven years. 1t was
Memorial Day." A more charming day
would be hard to conceive. 1t was a typl-
cal September day-clear, cool and bright.
The streets this morning were thrOnged
with people of all conditions, color, sex and
occupation. Onthe standin Independence
suuare there were represented every branch
and condition OF life which goes TO make
up a nation. Side by side were the chief
magistrates, the justices of the highest law
tribunal, the. ministers extraordinary of
foreign powers, the nations law makers
and representatives of the army and navy
and all other departments of civil, military
and religious life.
The stand in Independence Square in the
rear of the old Historical Hall had a seat
ing capacity of about 10000, and was filled
early by holders of tickets, which were
NECESSARY To GAIN ADMISSION.
At the front OF the stand facing south an
enclosure was rallied oil for the President,
his party, the speakers and others. At
the front aud suspended so as to be in full
view hung Photographic copyotthe origin
al constitution.
At the east side of the stand stood the
quaint old h~igh-backed chair, occupied by
George Washington rs the presiding officer
of the congress, which adopted that honored
and venerated document; suspended from
the back OF the chair Was another copy Of
the nations charter; at each side OF the
center of the stand stood two neat, but
not large, lagstaffs, the colOrs on each be-
ing raised in honor Of the army and navy
as they came up.
At the eastern side of the structure sat
the Marine Band, who for half an hour be-
fore the exercises commenced discoursed
music as only
THAT FAMOUS ORGANIZATION.
could render. At half-paStthe gigantic cho-
rus of 200 children and 200 men as leading
voices, sang a patriotic air which brought
them rounds of applause.
Que of the first of the distinguished
guests tossarrive wa the venerable HAM
bal Hamlin. Just rs the bell on the top
of Independence Hall marked the hour of
IL, the Children's chorus sent up three
rOusing cheers as their tribute of love and
yeneration for the historic building.
At Just fourteen minutes past IL the ap-
pearance of the President and his Wife at
the head of a double column OF distin-
guished visitors created a perfect uproar OF
applause. as they came down the centre
aisle towards their places in front.
THE DISTINGUISHED UEsTs.
The President leaned on the arm of Ex-
Minister Kasson, and directly behind them
came Mrs. Cleveland leaning on the arm of
ThOs NJ. Thompson, chairman of the COM
mittee of ~recpetiOn of distinguished guests,
next came Secretary Bayard, Danl. La
mont and wife and Secretary Fairchild.
After the President and Mrs. Cleveland
had reached the stand a general handshak-
ing with those whom they recognized or
were recognized by took place. After
which, in response to the tumultuous APP
plause of the multitude, they walked side
by side 10 the front of the structure and
bowed an acknowledgment of the COmpll'
ments paid them. 1t seemed rs though
the cheering would never die out; the
earth almost trembled as thousands OF
throats were yelled hoarse. At ll:25,
after all had reached the stand, Bishop
Potter arose, and being followed by oil
of those who occupied the reserved space,
WITH UNCOVERED HEADS,
made the open ing prayer, reading from
manuscript. IN the great noise and
din it was simply impossible for even those
near him to distinguish even a word, Jus,
after the Bishop had concluded his prayer,
Lieutenant General Phil II. Sheridan
with his aides, followed closely by Card
inal Gibbons, Arch Bishop Ryan and a
number of the Catholic Clergy, marched
down the isle and were cheered TO the
echo.
When they had been seated, the Hon,
John A. Kasson, a. president OF the Cons,
titutional Centennial Convention assumed
his place, and after 4 hymn had been rem
dered by the choir, arose TO make the IN
troductory address of the day. After 9
hearty round of applause, he spoke, well
coming the distinguished guests present
his remarks being pGnItlGted With many
, demonstrations of applause. Mrs. Cleye
. land sat almost in front of the speaker
position, and was the Cynosure of all eyes
: She was neatly and handsomely
attired in a close fitting dress o
, cream and brown colored plain silk
and wore a stylish bonnet of q drab colo
, and ribbon trimmings. At the close Of
! the address of welcome Mr. Cleveland re
spouded as follows:
THE PRESIDENTS SPEECH.
deem it a very great honor and pleas
ure to participate in these impressive ex
: ~ercises. Every American citizen should
on this Centennial Day, rejoice in his citi
zenship. He will not find the cause Q
his rejoicing the antiquity Of his country
for among the nstiGn3 OF the earth, hl
stands with the youngest. He will no
Y find it in the glitter and pomp that bedecl
a monarch and dazzle abject and servil
, > and subjects, for in his country the peopl
? themselves are rulers. He will not find i
in the story of bloody foreign C~oOquestS
7 for his government has been content 7
|, care for its own domain and people. H
= should rejoice, because the work of fran
: ing our constitution was completed on
hundred years ago to-day, and also becaus
when completed it established a free gov
a eminent.
He should rejoice, because this cOnstitu
. a., an5 ~ovarnmant have survived q